Automatic block for railroad-switches.



No. 642,232. Patented Jan. 30, I900. w. B. KEENEY.

AUTOMATIC BLOCK FOR RAILROAD SW ITCHES.

(Application filed Apr. 24, 1899.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

Feb 1.

E A J w/rlvgsses w VENTOH No. 642,232. Patented Jan. 30, I900. W. R. KEENEY.

AUTOMATIC BLOCK FOR RAILRDAD SWITCHES.

(Application filed Apr. 24, 1899.)

(No Model.) 2 SheetsShee! 2.

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wmvmsm INVENTOR tln'iTnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

YVILLIAM R. KEENEY, OF DOON, IOWA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO SAMUEL J. BEALS, OF SIOUX CITY, IOWA.

AUTOMATIC BLOCK FOR RAILROAD-SWITCHES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 642,232, dated January 30, 1900.

Application filed April 24, 1899. Serial No. 714,287. (No model.)

To a whom it m y concern: shown may be used ora hook orother method Be it known that 1, WILLIAM R. KEENEY, a of attachment, or the bar or strip may be atcitizen of the United States, residing at Doon, tached directly to the rail, depending upon in the county of Lyon, State of Iowa, have inthe flexibility of the bar or strip to permit the 5 vented a new and useful Automatic Block for movement of the free end.

Railroad-Switches, of which the following is The end F of the bar or strip at the point a specification. of the switch-rail, as shown in Fig. 3, is held My invention relates to a safety device or in its position when the switch is open by the block for railroad-switches; and the objects bracket E, attached to the sliding bar G II. T0 of the invention are, first, to so occupy, fill, This sliding bar running under the main or and divide the space between the movable stock rail and resting and sliding upon the and the main or stock rail of the form of switch head-block of the switch is turned up into a known as a split switch as to avoid the hook at H, which catches upon the base of dangers common andincident to such switches the main rail B when the switch is open and I5 occasioned by the catching of the feet of the prevents further movementof the bar or strip employees or others in such space; second, toward the split rail, while in like manner a to supply a block for such switch of such hook D, (shown in Fig. 1,) attached to the form and so adjusted that it will not interbar or strip, catches upon the end of the split fere with the movement and operation of the rail A and prevents movement toward the 2o switch, but will move automatically with the main rail B.

switch-point in such a way as to block or di- In the operation of the automatic block the vide the space when open; third, to supplya bar or strip CL CL is attached by the hinge b 0 form of said block that may be readily and or otherwise at one extremity to the railA or easily adjusted to existing construction, and, B in such manner that the bar or strip di- 25 fourth, to supply a block so constructed that vides the space between A and B into about it may be rapidly and easily removed and reequal portions at the opposite extremity of placed for the purpose of removing snow, ice, the bar or strip, which should reach to or or other obstructions. I attain these objects slightly beyond the end or point of the split by the mechanism illustrated in the accomrail. The sliding bar Gl'lis placed under the o panying drawings, in whichmain or stock rail and rests and slides upon Figure l is a view of a split switch open the head-block of the switch, as indicated in with the device in place. Fig. 2 shows a form Figs. 3 and 6, so that when the switch is open of hinge by means of which the bar a a may the hook H will catch upon the base of the rail move laterally at the free end. Fig. 3 shows 13 and the hook D upon the end of the rail A, 35 an end view of the switch open. Fig. 4 shows and the bar or strip will thus be held and the switch shut. Fig. 5 is another view of the supported in place about midway of the space hinge shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 6 shows an end between the rails. \Vhen the switch is closed, view of the switch closed. the split rail will be pushed against the bar In Figs. 1 and a, A is the movable or split or strip a a, which, moving toward the main 4o railof the switch, B the main or stock rail, and or stock rail B, will pass beneath the head of a a a bar or strip of metal, wood or other the railB,occupying the position shownbythe material one-half inch to one inch in thickdotted line in Fig. 4 and by F in Fig. 6, thus ness, two to three inches in width, and about permitting the split rail A to close against the the length of the movable rail, although these rail B. \Vhen the switch is again thrown 45 dimensionsarenotmaterial. The bar orstrip open, the rail A, catching the hook D, pulls a a is shown attached to the movable or split the bar or strip again into position, as shown rail by the hinge l) c, which is bolted to the in Figs. 1 and The space between A to B rail; but it may be attached to the main rail being thus divided by the bar a a, it is imit' for any reason such attachment is more possible for a person to put his foot into the 10: 5o convenient. The method of attachment to space or get it caught there. The strip or the rail is also immaterial. The hinge as bar can be readily detached for the purpose of removing snow or ice by lifting it from the hinge or hook at the attached end.

' So far as I am aware prior to my invention there has been no device calculated to accomplish the objects of this automatic switchblock by a horizontal movable bar longitudinally placed between the fixed rail and the switch-tongue and flexibly secured. V

I therefore claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a foot-guard for a split switch in combination with the fixed rail and the switchtongue a horizontally-movable bar longitudinally placed between the fixed rail and the switch-tongue and flexibly secured, said bar being adapted to occupy the recess in the side of the fixed rail when the switch-tongue is closed against it, and means for withdrawing the bar from the recess in the fixed rail when the switch-tongue is opened so that the bar will divide the open space between the fixed rail and the switch-tongue, substantially as described.

2. In a foot-guard fora split switch in combination with the fixed rail and the switchtongue a horizontally-movable bar longitudinally placed between the fixed rail and the switch-tongue, having at one end a flexible connection which allows the bar to move laterally with the switch-tongue, said bar being adapted to occupy the recess in the side of the fixed rail when the switch-tongue is closed against it, and means for withdrawing the bar from the recess in the fixed rail when the switch-tongue is open so that the bar will divide the open space between the fixed rail and the switch-tongue, substantially as described. V

3. In a foot-guard fora split switch in combination with the fixed rail and the switchtongue, a horizontally-movable bar, longitudinally placed between the fixed rail and the switch-tongue, and flexibly secured at one end by a vertical hinge, which permits the bar to move laterally, said bar being adapted to occupy the recess in the side of the fixed rail when the switch-tongue is closed against it, and means for withdrawing the bar from the recess in the fixed rail when the switchtongue is opened so that the bar will divide the open space between the fixed rail and the switch-tongue, substantially as described.

4. In a foot-guard for a split switch in combination with a fixed rail and the switchtongue, a horizontally-movable bar a a longitudinally placed between the fixed rail B, and the switch-tongue A, and secured to the said movable rail or switch-tongue A by the hinge b, said bar being adapted to occupy the recess in the side of the fixed rail when the switch-tongue is closed against it, and to be drawn from said recess, and the hook D attached to the bar a a and adapted to engage the switch-tongue, and the shoe G attached to the bar a a and carrying the hook I-I, substantially for the purpose as hereinbefore set forth.

WVILLIAM R. KEENEY.

Witnesses:

ASA F. CALL, MECCA PEAVY. 

